2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2022 Nissan Frontier

The 2022 Nissan Frontier was a significant milestone in Nissan’s “Nissan Next” strategy, which aimed to introduce refreshed, redesigned, or new vehicles over 20 months. This model year featured a bold, blocky, and rugged style akin to the classic Nissan Hardbody pickups from the 1980s and 1990s. The Frontier’s design, helmed by project lead designer Hiren Patel, appeared as if it had been machined from a solid block of metal, projecting a robust and powerful presence on the road.

The 2022 Frontier was available in nine exterior colors, including eye-catching options like Tactical Green, Deep Pearl Blue, and Boulder Gray Pearl. Interior choices were limited to charcoal, available with either cloth or multiple grades of leather, and sandstone, which came in cloth only. The test model boasted a Baja Storm tan exterior with charcoal leather seating, exclusive to the off-road ready PRO-4X and 2WD PRO-X trims.

Dimensionally, the 2022 Frontier was slightly longer than its predecessor, particularly in the nose, but the overall increase in size was minimal, ensuring the truck still fit comfortably in garages and parking spots. Unlike compact pickups like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, or larger midsize trucks like the Jeep Gladiator or Honda Ridgeline, the Frontier aimed to compete directly with the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma. According to Nissan, the Tacoma was the primary competitor they targeted during the engineering of the 2022 Frontier.

For configuration, customers could choose between a King Cab or a Crew Cab, with no regular two-door cab option available. The King Cab, equipped with a 6-foot bed, offered limited backseat space, making it suitable primarily for short trips. In contrast, the Crew Cab came standard with a 5-foot bed or an optional 6-foot bed on SV trims, providing more versatility.

Nissan offered a spray-in bedliner, optional LED bed lighting, and a three-channel tie-down system to enhance utility. Aerodynamics were improved with an integrated spoiler on the tailgate.

Inside, the 2022 Frontier saw significant advancements with features like the acclaimed Zero Gravity front seats, improved insulation, and a new center console for added storage. These changes elevated the Frontier’s comfort and functionality, positioning it favorably within the midsize truck segment.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Frontier retained the popular exterior redesign inspired by the 1986 Nissan Hardbody and the well-received 2022 interior with minor updates. The new model introduced a Midnight Edition trim on the SV, featuring blacked-out aesthetics on the grille, wheels, mirrors, and interior accents.

Lava Red interior accents were added to the Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, including Lava Red stitching, steering-wheel badges, and inserts lining the grab handles and speakers. These trims also featured heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and various adjustable seating options to enhance comfort.

The 2023 Frontier continued to offer nine exterior colors, including Baja Storm, Tactical Green, Blue Pearl, and two shades of red, along with grayscale options. Overall, the minimal changes reflected the success of the 2022 redesign, maintaining its appeal without drastic alterations.

In terms of performance, the 2022 Nissan Frontier stood out with its powertrain, particularly the 3.8-liter V6 engine, which had been introduced in 2020. This engine, producing a class-leading 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, was retuned for the heavier 2022 model, providing robust acceleration and impressive passing power at highway speeds.

The powertrain featured a tow mode that adjusted shift points for improved performance under load. The Frontier could handle a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds and had a towing capacity of 6,720 pounds. While these figures were not class-leading, they were competitive. For maximum payload or towing capabilities, Nissan recommended the full-size Nissan Titan.

A nine-speed automatic transmission managed the power, offering smooth gear transitions, climbing gears uphill efficiently, and maximizing fuel economy during level or downhill driving. However, the EPA estimates for the 2022 model were modest, with 18 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined for rear-wheel drive, while four-wheel drive models returned 17/22/19 mpg.

The 2022 Frontier retained a hydraulic rack and pinion steering system for better steering feel, heavier than the Toyota Tacoma’s electric assist. This decision aimed to please traditional truck enthusiasts but made the Frontier slightly challenging to maneuver around town.

For off-roading, the PRO-4X trim featured an impressive kit with hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shock absorbers, steel and aluminum skid plates, and a best-in-class approach angle of 32.3 degrees. The 2WD PRO-X trim offered the off-road styling without the full off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier continued with the same powertrain configuration, retaining the 3.8-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with the nine-speed automatic transmission. While the transmission felt suitable for in-town driving, it required multiple downshifts before accelerating on highways, which could be mildly inconvenient.

The 2023 model also offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard with a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive (4WD) system available. Drivers could switch to 4WD high at speeds under 70 mph without stopping, but 4WD low required the truck to be stationary. The Pro-X models shared the Bilstein shocks and stylish attributes of the Pro-4X but did not offer 4WD.

The Frontier’s towing capacity remained at 6,720 pounds and handled a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds, aligning with the 2022 model. The EPA-rated fuel economy for the 2023 model mirrored its predecessor, offering up to 20 mpg combined for RWD and slightly lower figures for 4WD models.

Nissan aimed to balance off-road capability with on-road comfort in the Pro-4X trim through progressive suspension compression and a new urethane jounce bumper. Additionally, the 2023 Frontier featured 41 new parts to reduce engine, road, and wind noise, enhancing the driving experience.

The retention of hydraulic steering saw a 16% increase in the steering gear ratio for easier maneuverability at low speeds. This adjustment followed feedback from customers who found the earlier model challenging to navigate in tight spaces.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier excelled in combining comfort and capability, particularly in the front seats, where Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort. The truck offered convenient storage options, surpassing rivals like the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, and felt spacious compared to the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.

The Crew Cab Frontier offered moderate headroom and legroom in the backseat, suitable for short-to-medium trips, but rear passengers would lack the space to stretch out fully, unlike in full-size pickups. The King Cab’s rear seats were minimalistic, suitable only for tools or groceries rather than passengers.

Nissan scattered eight cupholders around the Crew Cab cabin, four of which could hold 32-ounce bottles. Additional storage was provided beneath the rear seat in the Crew Cab, contributing to the truck’s overall utility.

For 2023, the Frontier continued offering two cab configurations: the larger Crew Cab standard on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, and the smaller King Cab base for S and SV trims. The Crew Cab featured four full-sized doors with a default 5-foot bed, while the 6-foot bed was available on the SV Crew Cab. The King Cab came with two full-sized and two rear access doors, with a standard 6-foot bed.

The 2023 model introduced LED under-rail bed lighting on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims and increased cargo bed volume by raising the bed walls. The 5-foot bed offered 40.1 cubic feet of space, and the 6-foot bed provided 46.4 cubic feet.

A hydraulically assisted tailgate added convenience, opening slowly and controlled, and could be closed with one hand. This feature aimed to appeal to the Frontier’s customer base, although it might challenge some users.

The off-road-focused Pro-4X trim included an aluminum front skid plate and steel under-body skid plates to protect essential components during rugged adventures. Inside, Zero Gravity seats continued to provide comfort, and the center console storage volume stood at 4 liters, nearly double that of competitors. Additional storage in rear and front door pockets and under-seat storage in the second row (except for the base S trim) enhanced practicality.

Technological advancements marked a significant leap for the 2022 Nissan Frontier. The base S and SV trims featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen, while the PRO-4X came with a 9-inch screen, both providing clear and sharp displays. The interface featured physical knobs and buttons for easy access to volume, tuning, audio source, map, and camera functions, accompanied by large touchscreen icons.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a wired connection, with no wireless option. However, the Frontier could be equipped with a wireless phone charger and an optional Kicker tailgate audio system. The Crew Cab models featured four USB ports—USB-A and USB-C in both front and rear. An optional 10-speaker Fender stereo, available via the Premium Package, provided excellent sound quality.

The 2023 model enhanced tech offerings with standard wireless Apple CarPlay on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, while the S and SV trims continued to use a wired connection. Wireless charging pads were available on the top trims, which also featured four USB ports each (two USB-A and two USB-C).

Infotainment was handled through an 8-inch touchscreen for lower trims and a class-leading 9-inch screen for Pro-X and Pro-4X. Lower trims had a four-speaker audio system, while higher trims enjoyed a six-speaker setup, with the option for a 10-speaker Fender premium system. A 7-inch digital gauge cluster was standard across the lineup, and Pro trims featured a new off-road gauge showing real-time angles in 4WD. The Intelligent Around-View Monitor (AVM) with off-road mode was available on Pro-X and Pro-4X.

Safety was a priority for the 2022 Frontier, although it hadn’t been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. The model offered several standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) under Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, driver attention monitor, intelligent forward collision warning, trailer sway control, rear-door alert, and an easy-fill tire alert. Optional safety features included traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, rear sonar, and more.

In 2023, the Frontier maintained essential safety features across all trims with forward-collision warning, trailer sway control, driver-attention monitor, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear-door alert. Lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were available but not standard. Traffic-sign recognition and intelligent cruise control were standard on Pro-4X and optional on lower trims.

The 2023 Frontier received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, excelling in side crash tests but earning four stars for frontal crashes and three for rollover tests. Although the IIHS hadn’t tested the 2023 model, the 2022 version received favorable ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention and seat belt reminders.